Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Print)

Crunchy coating encases warm, gooey mozzarella for a perfect savory snack.

# What you'll need:

→ Cheese

01 - 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ Coating

04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 tablespoons milk
06 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

→ Seasonings (optional)

07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Serving

11 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

# How To Make It:

01 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice each mozzarella stick in half to create 24 shorter sticks, if desired.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs mixed with milk, and one with combined Italian-style breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, and optional seasonings.
03 - Dredge each mozzarella stick in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then thoroughly coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
04 - Repeat dipping each stick in the egg mixture and coating with breadcrumbs to ensure extra crispiness and prevent cheese from leaking out.
05 - Place the breaded sticks on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for at least one hour or until solid.
06 - Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
07 - Arrange frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and crisp but cheese is just starting to melt without oozing.
08 - Serve immediately alongside warm marinara sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They come together in fifteen minutes of hands-on work, then mostly cook themselves.
  • The double-breading trick creates that restaurant-quality crunch that keeps people reaching for another.
  • You can make a whole batch and freeze them for up to a month, so you're always ready when hunger strikes.
  • One batch feeds four people as an appetizer or keeps around as a reliable snack nobody turns down.
02 -
  • Freezing is not optional—it's the difference between perfectly contained cheese and a cheesy explosion in your air fryer.
  • Double breading really does work; it creates a thicker, crunchier coat that holds up better and seals in the cheese.
  • The sweet spot for cooking time is around seven minutes; go longer and you risk the cheese bursting out, which ruins the texture.
03 -
  • Light oil spray is all you need; too much will make them greasy instead of crispy, so use a cooking spray bottle instead of pouring oil.
  • Don't skip the egg wash or flour step; they're the glue that keeps your breadcrumbs adhered and creates that satisfying crunch.
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